Don’t forget Westbrook

With Eagles WR DeSean Jackson turning in explosive plays game after game, not much attention has been paid this season to Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion in the first quarter of the team’s Oct. 6 win against Washington.

But don’t think for a second, however, that the Cowboys have forgotten about him. Dallas knows better than most teams the importance of swarming Westbrook after he catches a pass out of the backfield. In a 2007 Eagles win at Texas Stadium, Westbrook was at his dual-purpose best, rushing for 81 yards on 18 attempts and catching nine passes for 63 yards. Since 2004, Westbrook leads the NFL with 3,090 yards after catch, so getting to him as soon as he grabs the ball with plenty of help is a must for Dallas.

“He’s the guy you have to stop,” Cowboys coach wade Phillips said during a conference call with the Philadelphia media. “You have to stop him in the running game and the passing game. That’s why he is so dangerous. He’s a great, great player. He can change a game or win a game for them by running or catching the ball.”

If Westbrook can’t shake the rust, the Eagles could always turn to rookie LeSean McCoy. The Pittsburgh alum averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns in the two games he started in place of Westbrook.